Thanks, Sarah. That is good to know. Is your crew doing Trek 15? I am particularly interested in knowing how close Deer Lake Mesa is to Devil's Wash Basin. My Philmont Map from 1990 tells me it is probably 1/2 a mile at most and an easy trail. I see no reason to lug 4L and 6L water bottles for a dry camp if there is water 1/2 a mile away. We will cook at Deer Lake Mesa, tank up, fill our bottles, and head to Devil's Wash Basin for the knight.

Here is a screenshot from my Garmin map with that area. You can see Devil's Wash Basin, Deer Lake and Deer Lake Mesa.
Are you considering to rely on Deer Lake for water? Please have a look at this photo which shows our crew at/in Deer Lake last July. As you can see the lake is not always what it seems to be on the map.

Brian, As of 2008, the trail between the two is about 2-3 mi (no direct trail-ie as the crow flies) and both sources for water are very poor. I always suggested to my crews (former ranger) that you eat your cook meals on your approach to these camps (ie if coming up from Harlan to eitger camp; eat your dinner meal for lunch and lunch for dinner) where water is plentiful.

Edit: And there may or may not be a great "secret" short-cut trail between Devil's wash and Ute Gultch…it was always fun to let my crew leave first on the last day and then beat them into UG ;)